gelin



UNITED STATES PATENT GFEICE.

FELIX GELIN AND GHAS. GELIN, CF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

LEG FOR PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,294, dated June 7", 1859.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FELIX GELrN and CHARLES GnLIN, of the city andcounty of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in the Feet of Pianofortes and Similar Instruments;and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear. and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings. making a part of this specification, in which-p Figure l is across section and Fig. Q is a cross section on the line S S in Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings.

It is generally known that a portion of the sound which is or would beproduced by a piano is practically lost by reason of its contact withthe Hoor and with the nonsonorous objects connected therewith. Thedeadening effect of the ioor is also well known to vary with itscharacter and especially to be effected by the presence of a carpetthereon. Pieces of wood have been frequently introduced between thecasters of a piano and the carpet to diminish the loss from this sourcebut their effect is very slight. The material being similar to that inthe legs. the introduction of these blocks is only equivalent toincreasing the length of the legs.

A very greatly increased effect results from the introduction of glassin lieu of wood and in all situations whether on a carpeted or a barefloor in an empty hall or a crowded concert the effect of a piano isstrengthened by the introduction of glass under the legs. It has beenused in the form of blocks and sheets and also in the form of concavevessels or dishes and has in every instance resulted in an increase inthe strength of tone.

To avoid the labor involved in moving a piano under which glass is usedin this manner and to avoid the difficulties arising from an accidentalmovement of a piano thus mounted we prefer to surround the socket ofeach caster with glass. By this expedient glass is made to intervenebetween the piano and the floor as effectually as in the instancesbefore cited without involving any dithculties. It has been proposed tomake the wheels of the casters of glass but such would be open toserious objections to which our invention is not open. The drawingsrepresent the caster wheel as of glass but this forms no portion of ourinvention. In surrounding the sockets of the casters with glass we takecare to have the glass thick and well supported by the wood of the legso there is very little danger of fracture.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention wewill proceed to describe its construction and operation by the aid ofthe drawings.

A is a section of the ordinary wooden portion of the base of a pianoleg. B is the ordinary swivelling portion of the caster. C is theordinary metallic socket, which receives B in the usual manner. D is theordinary aXis riveted in B as usual.

E is a wheel of pressed glass in a form nearly cylindrical and withplane sides as represented. The axis D passes loosely through the holein the center and allows E to freely turn thereon.

F is a socket holder of pressed glass constructed with a shoulder asrepresented and fitted tightly in the wood A. The cavity in its centerto receive the socket C is constructed a little larger than C and thecontact is made rigid by inserting cloth, leather, cement or othersuitable material represented by G.

Any of the devices by which the swiveling piece B is retained when thepiano is lifted from the floor may be used in our invention.

The effect of F is such that when the sound travels downward on A it ischecked by the glass material of F and reflected backward instead ofbeing' lost by traveling downward through C B D and E to the Hoor.

le are not aware that glass has ever before been used as a socket tocontain the caster. Then used as the material for the wheel it is ofunusual and objectionable appearance, is liable to be broken by theweight and is exposed to violent collisions with other objects. while inour invention it is concealed and shielded from any external injury, andbeing tightly embraced by the wood of the leg` is increased in strength.

sound from the instrument to the floor is 10 checked Without injuringthe appearance or endangering the strength and durability of theinstrument.

F. GELIN. C. GELIN. Witnesses:

THOMAS D. STETSON, JNO. VARD.

